Jordan Uses Israeli-made Film for Use in Solidarity Day Events

November 30, 1978

JERUSALEM (Nov. 29)

The ever-increasing popularity of videotaping has been put to novel — if distorted — use by Jordan television, which videotaped an Israeli-made TV drama in order to screen it tonight for “International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.”

The film, “Hirbet Hiza,” is an adaptation of a play by S. Yizhar about the expulsion of Arab villagers by Israelis during the 1948 war. Although purely fictitious, the Jordanian broadcasters have termed the film a documentary account about “occupied Arabs” suffering at the hands of Israeli soldiers. The film caused considerable controversy in Israel at the beginning of the year when it was televised.

“I can only regret that the film is being used by the Jordanians for propaganda purposes,” Yizhar said. “The film was intended for Israeli audiences mature enough to judge its message in the correct proportions. The story is not political. Its objective is to draw attention to all actions which cause suffering to persons of all creeds. Perhaps now Arab writers, too, will become more sensitive to the suffering of all nations.”

This will be the first time an Israeli film, with Hebrew subtitles in places where the dialogue is Arabic, will be shown on Jordan television.

Meanwhile, minor disturbances marked the observation of Solidarity Day on the West Bank. Student demonstrators were dispersed by police in Ramallah and other towns. West Bank activists called for a general strike and shut-down of schools and shops to protest the Israeli occupation. Arab students at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem were denied a permit to hold a demonstration on the campus. Jewish students organized a seminar on the subject of Zionism and peace.